OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The Ravens were without eight players as they returned to the practice field Wednesday ahead of their Week 6 meeting with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Safety Matt Elam (shoulder), left guard Kelechi Osemele (knee), center Jeremy Zuttah (ankle), inside linebacker Daryl Smith (knee), wide receiver Marlon Brown (pelvis), defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan (meniscus), left tackle Eugene Monroe (knee surgery), and defensive end Chris Canty (wrist surgery) were all absent during the portion of practice open to media. Head coach John Harbaugh provided an encouraging prognosis on Elam and Osemele during his Monday press conference, which quells concerns about their absence for the first full practice of the week.
“‘K.O.’ is OK. He had a bruise,” Harbaugh said. “It turned out to be a bruise from hyperextension a little bit, but he played the rest of the game. He’s sore, but he looks OK. And Matt Elam had a contusion on his shoulder. He’s a tough guy that played the rest of the way. He should be OK.”
Cornerback Dominique Franks and tight end Ryan Taylor were both present a day after being added to the 53-man roster. The Ravens officially placed cornerback Asa Jackson on injured reserve-designated to return Wednesday to make room for Franks and waived tight end Phillip Supernaw to clear a roster spot for Taylor, who was claimed off waivers from the Green Bay Packers.
Jackson will not eligible to return until the Ravens’ Week 14 meeting against the Miami Dolphins, meaning the Ravens will depend on Lardarius Webb to return to his starting role after dealing with a back injury for more than two months. Franks and fourth-year cornerback Chykie Brown will compete for playing time at the No. 3 cornerback spot, but Elam has also played extensively at the nickel spot this season.
“Dominique is going to do a good job for us,” Harbaugh said. “He was here in training camp and did well. He’s a good football player. We liked him then, and we’re fortunate that he’s still available.”
Meanwhile, Tampa Bay was without starting free safety Dashon Goldson (ankle) and wide receiver Vincent Jackson (rib) during Wednesday’s practice. The good news for the Buccaneers was the limited participation of rookie wideout Mike Evans, who’s been limited with a groin injury for the last two weeks.
Here is Wednesday’s full injury report:
BALTIMORE
DID NOT PARTICIPATE: WR Marlon Brown (pelvis), DE Chris Canty (wrist), S Matt Elam (shoulder), DT Timmy Jernigan (knee), T Eugene Monroe (knee), G Kelechi Osemele (knee), LB Daryl Smith (knee), C Jeremy Zuttah (ankle)
TAMPA BAY
DID NOT PARTICIPATE: CB Johnthan Banks (neck), LB Jonathan Casillas (hamstring), S Dashon Goldson (ankle), WR Vincent Jackson (rib), QB Josh McCown (right thumb)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION: DE Larry English (hamstring), WR Mike Evans (groin)
FULL PARTICIPATION: LB Mason Foster (shoulder)
